asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will make a statement on his discussions held on 21st November with the representatives of the National Union of Mineworkers and the National Coal Board to deal with the coal crisis.

At my meeting on 21st November with the National Coal Board and the National Union of Mineworkers, I explained the events which had made it necessary to purchase coal abroad. I asked both sides of the industry to take immediate action to increase the output of coal. As the result of this discussion, the Board, the Union, and the Government took the various measures which I described to the House in debate which took place on 12th December.